By: Ron Burt
We are very early into the 2024 racing season but in the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, veteran driver Rusty Schlenk is making everyone take notice. Last Friday at Attica Raceway Park he led the first 20 laps of the rained out make up feature from last week before his radiator hose broke and Ryan Markham, who had also been challenging up front, took the lead and held off a late race challenge from Kyle Moore and Jeff Babcock for his 24th career Attica win worth $3,000. Schlenk came back in the night’s regular feature and took the lead from Gentry on lap 14 and held off a late race charge from Moore who had spun on the opening lap and came from the tail. Gentry, Gregg Haskell, and Devin Shiels rounded out the top five. It was Schlenk’s 40th career win in the late models at Attica Raceway Park. In victory lane Rusty Schlenk had this to say about the first feature, “We have a cooling problem obviously. We blew a radiator hose in the first feature. I was trying to baby it and I was trying to run around their half-throttle, but Gentry was there and I over-heated it and blew the hose. That was a $3,000 loss for a $18.00 part. I was watching the board, and I knew Kyle Moore was coming, he’s been very good competition.” The Fremont Fence 305 Sprints put on a fantastic feature. Dustin Stroup grabbed the lead at the start and held it for nine laps before John Ivy took over. Ivy continued to work through traffic, leading until lap 20 when defending track champion Jamie Miller passed him. Miller had to fend off Ivy, then Paul Weaver and finally Bryan Sebetto to get his second win of the year at Attica Raceway Park and the 41st 305 Sprint win of his career at the track. Sebetto, Weaver, Ivy and Stroup rounded out the top five. Craig Mintz was able to maneuver his car anywhere he wanted, and he picked up his 17th career 410 Sprint Car victory at the track. He earned $4000.00 with the win. Behind Mintz was Greg Wilson, Cap Henry, Zeth Sabo, and DJ Foos.
Trey Jacobs added his name to the Fremont Speedway win list Saturday night in the 410 Sprint class winning the A-Main. He joins his father, uncle and cousin on the tracks win list. In the 305 Sprints, it was Bryan Sebetto who got the feature victory by nudging out Jamie Miller, who came back to win the Fremont Truck feature. It’s not easy running two classes a night but Miller is good at it.
The USAC Thunder Midgets went to Waynesfield Raceway Park last Saturday and the three cars sponsored by MWR Technology claimed the top three spots in the A-Main. The defending USAC Midwest Thunder Midget Champion, Zach Wigal took the win followed by Cale Coons and Alex Watson.
Jeff Bloom tossed his name in the hat for the Little 500 at Anderson Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 5th. Bloom won the prestigious race in 1972, 1977, and 1991. If he qualifies, this will be his 43rd appearance in the historic event for USAC Asphalt Sprint Cars. The top drivers in USAC have all entered this year. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
